Monthly Piracy Report for April 2014

On 29 April 2014 two armed pirates attacked the product tanker, SP Brussels approximately 35nm West of Bayelsa Province, unfortunately this attack resulted in the death of the Chief Engineer and injuries to the Third Officer. Two product tankers were hijacked in April 2014 in the Malacca/Singapore Straits. In both the attacks the pirates were heavily armed. Five incidents were reported in April 2014 at Pulau Bitan, Indonesia. Several attacks took place in the Singapore Straits in 2013 and 2014. Finally the EU NAVFOR warship, FGS Brandenburg managed to intercept a dhow in the Gulf of Aden on 26 April 2014.

• Arabian Sea: 1
• East Africa: 2
• Malacca Strait: 7
• South America: 1
• South China Sea: 5
• West Africa: 3
• Indian Ocean: 3

OVERVIEW

The figures below are an extract from the monthly piracy report that is being released each month from Suritec. The full report developed by Suritec can be found by clicking HERE.

Attacks East Africa and the HRZ (source: Suritec)

Incidents in West Africa (source: Suritec)

Incidents Southeast Asia (source: Suritec)

Incidents South America (source: Suritec)

PIRACY & ARMED ROBBERY REPORTS

Date/Time: 1-Apr-14 0:40. Vessel type: Containership. Flag: Panama. GRT: 24053. Position/Location/Area: 20° 52.00′ N – 107° 07.00′ E Cailan Channel, Viet Nam South China Sea. Three robbers in a small boat approached and boarded the grounded ship and attempted to break into the forward stores. Alert duty crew sighted the robbers and raised the alarm. All crew mustered, SSAS activated and DPA was informed. Hearing the alarm and seeing the crew alertness the robbers escaped empty handed. Port Authority contacted but received no response.

Date/Time: 2-Apr-14 0:05. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Panama. GRT: 59671. Position/Location/Area: 1° 24.00′ N – 104° 43.00′ E 13nm NE of Bintan Island, Indonesia Malacca Strait. Four robbers boarded an anchored tanker from the stern. Duty A/B noticed the robbers and informed the bridge. Alarm raised and all crew mustered. Due to the crew alertness, the robbers escaped without stealing anything.

Date/Time: 4-Apr-14 1:40. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Marshall Islands. GRT: 28063. Position/Location/Area: 1° 25.00′ N – 104° 38.00′ E Around 12nm NNE of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia Malacca Strait. Robbers boarded an anchored tanker unnoticed and escaped with ship’s properties. The robbery was only noticed in the morning by the engine crew.

Date/Time: 5-Apr-14 12:15. Vessel type: Chemical tanker. Flag: Panama. GRT: 8638. Position/Location/Area: 12° 35.50′ N – 43° 26.00′ E Bab El Mandeb, Red Sea, Yemen East Africa. Five persons in a skiff approached the tanker underway. Master raised alarm, altered course and the non-essential crew members mustered in a safe room. The onboard armed security team noticed a ladder when the skiff closed in to 0.3nm and a warning shot was fired resulting in the skiff aborting the approach and moving away.

Date/Time: 7-Apr-14 5:50. Vessel type: Tug. Flag: Malaysia. GRT: 140. Position/Location/Area: 1° 11.23′ N – 103° 39.19′ E Singapore Straits, Westbound lane, TSS (Straits of Malacca & Singapore), Singapore Malacca Strait. While underway, 10 robbers boarded the barge “Budget 28” that was towed by the tug boat “Budget 18”. The robbers stole approximately 10 tons of scrap metal before they left the barge at or about 0640 hrs (local time). The crew was not injured. The Singapore Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) informed the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and also initiated a VHF broadcast to alert mariners.

Date/Time: 9-Apr-14 6:00. Vessel type: Bulk carrier. Flag: Bahamas. GRT: 25498. Position/Location/Area: 3° 54.00′ N – 98° 46.00′ E Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia Malacca Strait. Nine robbers armed with knives in two wooden boats approached and boarded an anchored ship. Duty crew on routine rounds spotted the robbers and informed the bridge who raised the alarm, sounded ship’s whistle and crew mustered. Seeing the crew alertness, the robbers escaped with the stolen ship’s properties in their boats. Pilot Station and CSO were informed.

Date/Time: 12-Apr-14 4:30. Vessel type: Bulk carrier. Flag: Singapore. GRT: 41668. Position/Location/Area: 1° 04.70′ S – 48° 29.70′ W Mosqueiro Pilot Station Anchorage, Brazil South America. Duty Officer onboard an anchored ship saw some movement near the forecastle and informed the duty watchman to investigate. As the watchman approached he saw a robber armed with a long knife. Ship’s alarm raised and all crew mustered. Seeing the crew alertness, the robber escaped with stolen ship’s properties.

Date/Time: 13-Apr-14 4:41. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Singapore. GRT: 11267. Position/Location/Area: 13° 58.00′ N – 55° 32.30′ E Around 106nm NE of Socotra Island, Yemen), Somalia East Africa. Four pirates in a skiff approached the chemical tanker underway. Master raised alarm, increased speed and the non-essential crew members mustered in the citadel. As the skiff closed in to four cables the onboard security team noticed a ladder and fired a warning shot resulting in the skiff aborting the approach and moving away.

Date/Time: 14-Apr-14 12:30. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Liberia. GRT: 81314. Position/Location/Area: 12° 25.00′ N – 43° 43.00′ E Gulf of Aden, Liberia West Africa. Seven pirates in a white-blue coloured skiff armed with an RPG approached the tanker underway. Master raised alarm, sounded ship’s whistle, activated fire hoses and fired two parachute rockets. The armed security team onboard noticed a ladder on the skiff and showed their weapons resulting in the skiff aborting the approach and moved away.

Date/Time: 17-Apr-14 7:00. Vessel type: Bulk carrier. Flag: Malta. GRT: 91374. Position/Location/Area: 12° 24.00′ N – 43° 42.00′ E Gulf of Aden, Yemen Arabian Sea. Five armed pirates in a skiff approached the ship underway. Alarm raised, all crew mustered, fire hoses activated and the ship increased speed. Flares fired but the skiff continued it’s approach. At a distance of 0.15nm a ladder was sighted and the armed security team onboard showed their weapons resulting in the skiff aborting and moving away.

Date/Time: 17-Apr-14 20:10. Vessel type: Product tanker. Flag: Thailand. GRT: 929. Position/Location/Area: 1° 59.80′ N – 104° 25.40′ E Approximately 18 nm off Tanjung Sedili, Malaysia South China Sea. While underway, eight pirates armed with swords and handguns boarded the oil tanker which was en route from Singapore to Koh Kong, Cambodia, carrying a cargo of approximately 1.9 million litres of marine gas oil. The master and crew were forced to anchor and thereafter, a small-sized tanker came alongside the oil tanker. The pirates then siphoned approximately 450,000 litres of the cargo from Sri Phangnga to their tanker. The pirates painted over the ship name and company logo on the vessel and stole personal belongings of equipment including GPS, VHF and walkie talkies. It was reported that the robbers damaged the windlass hydraulic control pipes, M/E compressed air pipes, communication power line system before they escaped at or about 0240 hrs (local time). The crew managed to repair the damaged system temporarily and proceeded to Cambodia. Sri Phangnga arrived safely in Cambodia on 20 Apr 14. The master suffered minor injuries but the rest of the crew was not injured.

Date/Time: 18-Apr-14 3:55. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: India. GRT: 28522. Position/Location/Area: 9° 53.30′ N – 76° 08.50′ E Kochi Anchorage, India Indian Ocean. Three robbers in a small boat approached and attempted to board an anchored tanker. Duty crew on routine rounds noticed the robbers and informed bridge who raised the alarm and crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm, the robbers aborted the attempted boarding and escaped in their boat. Port Control informed.

Date/Time: 18-Apr-14 19:30. Vessel type: Bulk carrier. Flag: India. GRT: 33170. Position/Location/Area: 0° 13.00′ S – 117° 35.00′ E Samarinda Anchorage, Indonesia South China Sea. Duty officer onboard an anchored ship noticed three robbers trying to board the ship near the forecastle. Ship’s alarm raised and all crew mustered. Due to the crew alertness, the robbers aborted the attempted boarding and escaped.

Date/Time: 19-Apr-14 0:30. Vessel type: General cargo ship. Flag: Panama. GRT: 5542. Position/Location/Area: 3° 55.00′ N – 98° 46.00′ E Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia Malacca Strait. Five robbers armed with knives boarded an anchored ship. They took hostage the duty crew on the forecastle and stole his personal belongings. The incident was noticed by another duty crew near the stern who informed the bridge. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Upon hearing the alarm, the robbers immediately escaped with the stolen items in their wooden boat. The duty crew received minor injuries.

Date/Time: 20-Apr-14 3:07. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Italy. GRT: 40763. Position/Location/Area: 1° 26.00′ N – 104° 38.00′ E Appr. 12nm NNE of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia South China Sea. Two robbers in a small craft approached and boarded an anchored tanker. Duty A/B on routine rounds noticed the robbers and informed the OOW who raised the alarm. All crew mustered and a search was carried out throughout the tanker and it was found that ship’s engine spares were missing. Incident reported to MPA Singapore.

Date/Time: 21-Apr-14 3:00. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Bahamas. GRT: 65830. Position/Location/Area: 1° 24.40′ N – 104° 34.80′ E North of Bintan island, Indonesia Malacca Strait. Robbers boarded an anchored product tanker, stole ship property and escaped unnoticed. The robbery was noticed by duty watchman on routine rounds.

Date/Time: 22-Apr-14 0:55. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Saint Kitts and Nevis. GRT: 2991. Position/Location/Area: 2° 59.00′ N – 100° 54.90′ E Fathom Bank, off Port Klang, Malaysia Malacca Strait. On 21 Apr 14 at or about 0620 hrs (local time), Naniwa Maru No. 1 departed Singapore for the port of Yangon, Myanmar with 4,344 metric tonnes of Marine Diesel Oil onboard. On 22 Apr 14, the shipping company based in Singapore reported to the ReCAAP ISC that two vessels came alongside Naniwa Maru No. 1. Upon receipt of the information, the ReCAAP ISC immediately alerted the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). Subsequently, the shipping company updated the ReCAAP ISC that five robbers appeared at the bridge, held the crew while they stole about 2,500 metric tonnes of Marine Diesel Oil and escaped. The company also reported that the master, chief officer and chief engineer (all Indonesians) were taken by the robbers, together with their personal belongings and travel documents. The rest of the crew was left onboard Naniwa Maru No. 1 without any injury. The shipping company reported that of the two vessels which came alongside Naniwa Maru No. 1, one of them was of a Mongolian flag, with a black and white hull, and shelter at the poop deck.”

Date/Time: 23-Apr-14 19:56. Vessel type: Product tanker. Flag: Marshall Islands. GRT: 42010. Position/Location/Area: 6° 17.00′ N – 3° 21.00′ E 6.3nm SSW of Lagos breakwater, Nigeria West Africa. Three persons in a skiff approached an anchored tanker carrying out STS operations and tried to board it via the anchor chain. Alert Nigerian Security Guard raised the alarm and fired a warning shot resulting in the attempted robbers moving away.

Date/Time: 24-Apr-14 2:50. Vessel type: Bulk carrier. Flag: Liberia. GRT: 18722. Position/Location/Area: 21° 51.00′ N – 91° 40.00′ E Chittagong OPL, Bangladesh Indian Ocean. Around 20 robbers in two boats boarded an anchored bulk carrier, broke into the forward stores, stole ship’s property and escaped. The ship’s attempt to contact the coast guard failed but message was relayed by another ship in the vicinity.

Date/Time: 29-Apr-14 19:31. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Marshall Islands. GRT: 4535. Position/Location/Area: 4° 56.00′ N – 4° 49.00′ E Around 35nm West of Bayelsa Province Coast, Nigeria West Africa. Two armed pirates boarded the tanker underway. As the crew retreated into the citadel the onboard armed team fired at the pirates. Most of the crew including the guards managed to retreat into the citadel. Head count in the citadel indicated two crew missing. When the guards and crew emerged from the citadel they found the C/E had been killed and the 3/O with injuries. The tanker headed towards Lagos.

Date/Time: 30-Apr-14 1:50. Vessel type: Oil Tanker. Flag: Singapore. GRT: 30068. Position/Location/Area: 22° 08.10′ N – 91° 41.60′ E Chittagong Anchorage, Bangladesh Indian Ocean. Two robbers boarded an anchored tanker from the stern. Ship’s alarm raised, all crew mustered and Port Control notified. Seeing the crew alertness, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s property.

Date/Time: 30-Apr-14 5:00. Vessel type: Chemical tanker. Flag: Hong Kong. GRT: 29578. Position/Location/Area: 1° 24.40′ N – 104° 41.20′ E Appr. 12nm NNE of Pulau Bintan, Indonesia South China Sea. Three robbers boarded an anchored chemical tanker. The duty wiper on routine rounds noticed the robbers and informed the duty engineer who raised the alarm. The robbers immediately escaped in their boat. All crew mustered. Upon searching the vessel it was found that some engine spares were missing.

For up to date live and accurate information please refer to

1. ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS)
2. IMB Piracy News and Figures
3. IMB Live Piracy Report
4. IMB Piracy & Armed Robbery Map
5. IMO Global Integrated Shipping Information System

Information and news regarding maritime piracy can also be found in the following websites:

1. Maritime Piracy-Humanitarian Response to Piracy (MPHRP): A pan-industry alliance working together with one aim of assisting seafarers and their families with the humanitarian aspects of a traumatic incident caused by a piracy attack etc. MPHRP offers related training courses and additional information can be found in the publications section of the website.
2. EU NAVFOR Somalia: Website of the the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia which was established in response to the rising levels of piracy and armed robbery off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean. The website offers interesting news related to maritime piracy.
3. Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA): The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) aims to provide a service to mariners in the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Basin and off the Horn of Africa. The website includes many valuable information to registered users such as vessel movements, live advice etc.
4. NATO Shipping Centre: The NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) is the link between NATO naval forces and the merchant shipping community.
5. Oceans Beyond Piracy: Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) is a project of the One Earth Future Foundation, a privately funded and independent non-profit organization located in Colorado, USA. OBP is a response to maritime piracy through the mobilization of industry stakeholders, public-private partnerships.
6. IMO’s Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Information Webpage.
7. Save our Seafarers: An international, not-for-profit, anti-piracy campaign which was launched in March 2011 by a group of five influential maritime associations.
8. United Nations National Legislation on Piracy
9. Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI): SAMI is a global organisation representing companies working in the maritime security industry and a focal point for global maritime security matters.
10. BIMCO GUARDCON: Standard contract for the employment of security guards on vessels. This contract has been developed to provide ship owners and private maritime security companies (PMSC) with a clearly worded and comprehensive standard contract to govern the employment and use of security guards, with or without firearms, on board merchant vessels.
11. Piracy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) by International Group of P&I Clubs
12. Strengthening Maritime Security in West & Central Africa (IMO)

The Officer of the Watch would like to thank SURITEC their contribution to this month’s Maritime Piracy Report:

Suritec was established in 2001 by a group of professionals with the goal of applying our background and expertise in knowledge management and intelligence to develop software and other technology solutions. Suritec’s present clients range from government departments, parastatals, commercial companies in the mining and retail sector to specialized crime and risk prevention consultancies. Suritec issues monthly Maritime Piracy Reports summarizing events related to maritime piracy. We would like to thank Suritec and Mrs. Lydelle Joubert for their kind permission to include part of their report in the OOW Monthly Maritime Piracy Report.